Network Neutrality

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, prominent musicians and songwriters urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish rules to keep the Internet open for creativity and entrepreneurship. In a separate filing, more than two dozen of the America’s most influential arts and culture organizations called for the strongest rules possible to prevent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from picking winners and losers online.

Musicians and songwriters including OK Go, R.E.M., Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Nate Query of the Decemberists, Laura Balance of Superchunk and Merge Records, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Laura Veirs, Rebecca Gates, Martín Perna of Antibalas and Daptone Super Soul Revue and more described the dangers of a “pay-to-play” Internet, where only those with deep pockets can reach audiences without interference.

On July 15, 2014, a consortium of musicians submitted the following joint comments in the Federal Communications Commission’s public docket on Net Neutrality. You can submit your own comments at http://www.fcc.gov/comments or email openinternet [at] fcc [dot] gov; reply comments will be due September 10. Participating musicians included:

I. Artists Make The Internet Incredible

We file these comments as musicians, songwriters, entrepreneurs, rabble-rousers, advocates, innovators, Internet users and members of the public. Each of us uses the Internet in practically every aspect of our lives and careers, from connecting with fans to booking tours, to selling music and merchandise to collaborating with other artists. Those of us who remember the small army of personnel it took in the old days to do even a couple of the things listed above are grateful for the innovations that have come from an open Internet. read more

On July 15, 2014, a consortium of national arts and culture organizations submitted the following comments in the Federal Communications Commission’s public docket on Net Neutrality. You can submit your own comments at http://www.fcc.gov/comments ; reply comments will be due September 10. Participating organizations included:

Alternate ROOTS
Americans for the Arts
American Community Television
American Composers Forum
Association of American Arts Presenters
Chamber Music America
Chorus America
Dance/USA
Fractured Atlas
Future of Music Coalition
League of American Orchestras
Independent Film & Television AllianceNational Alliance for Media Arts and CultureNational Alliance for Musical TheatreNational Performance NetworkNetwork of Ensemble TheatersNew Music USAOPERA AmericaPerforming Arts Alliance Sundance InstituteTheater Communications GroupWriters Guild of America West

I. Introduction

In a relatively short period of time, broadband Internet service has inspired tremendous innovation, which has in turn enabled individual artists and arts organizations to reach new audiences, cultivate patrons and supporters, collaborate with peers, stimulate local economies and enrich cultural and civic discourse. read more

T-Mobile markets itself as a great liberator within the mobile phone industry through its “UnCarrier” initiatives. But is the company really all that different from other powerful carriers and Internet Service Providers?

On June 18, T-Mobile announced UnCarrier 6.0, which includes new “partnerships” with streaming services such as Pandora, Spotify, iTunes Radio, iHeartRadio, Slacker, Rhapsody and Milk Music. Under the UnCarrier 6.0 provisions, T-Mobile will not count music streamed on the aforementioned services against their subscribers’ data caps. Using any other online music service—say, Bandcamp or Noisetrade—will result in slowed speeds and potentially, overages.

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Rep. Doris Matsui and Sen. Patrick Leahy introduced a bill called the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act, which calls upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take any action required to prevent Internet Service Providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T from picking winners and losers in an online free market. read more

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Rep. Doris Matsui and Sen. Patrick Leahy introduced a bill called the Online Competition and Consumer Choice Act, which calls upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to take any action required to prevent Internet Service Providers like Comcast, Verizon and AT&T from picking winners and losers in an online free market.

The FCC is currently accepting public comments in its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on “net neutrality.” The current proposal has received tremendous criticism for what many see as the enactment of a “two-tiered” Internet, in which companies with deep pockets receive priority access to subscribers, while creators and other entrepreneurs are relegated to the slow lane. read more

In the wake of the FCC’s vote last Thursday to bring forward a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking the House Subcommittee on Communications and Technology convened yesterday to question FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler on recent FCC activities, with an emphasis on the ongoing debate over net neutrality. read more

The FCC by stepped bipartisan opposition as well as the music community. Last month, Eddie Vedder, Michael Stipe, and Tom Morello joined many other artists in signing an open letter to the commission protesting the change. But protests by musical advocacy groups such as the Future of Music Coalition and Free Press have been applied in vain.

The statement, “The next 120 days are going to be big,” tweeted by the Future of Music Coalition portends an ongoing fight against e-stratification.

The Federal Communications Commission met earlier today to discuss a plan that could change the Internet experience as we all know and love it. Commissioners voted by a three-two margin to move the proposal forward and their decision has been hotly anticipated, as critics say it could challenge the open Internet experience and belittle net neutrality. Net neutrality is the concept that says Internet providers shouldn’t be able to restrict how everyone uses the service.

Michael Stipe must be losing his religion right about now. Music fans might want to perk up their ears, too. The Federal Communications Commission met today on a plan that could overhaul the online experience, and the commissioners voted by a three-two margin to move the proposal forward. The decision has been hotly anticipated, with critics warning it could harm the idea of an open Internet and undermine net neutrality, the concept that Internet service providers shouldn’t be able to restrict how the rest of use the service. read more